Ward Church hosts concert for Detroit

Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church wants to embrace Detroit’s comeback and to play a role in returning the city to its former glory. With the help of local musicians – Northville and Clarenceville high school choirs and Farmington Hills’ own Jena Irene Ascuiutto of American Idol fame – the congregation is taking another big step with the “Christmas for the D” concert, Dec. 5.

“This is the first we have ever done this concert or anything like this concert,” said the Rev. Scott McKee, senior pastor at Ward Church in Northville. “We want to build awareness. There are wonderful things going on in the city of Detroit that people are not aware of.”

“Christmas For The D” will raise funds to help community development in a 24-block area near New Center area. The neighborhood is located in 48202, long considered one of the poorest ZIP codes in the United States. All ticket sales from the concert will be donated directly to Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp., an agency that has been at work in the neighborhood for more than 20 years.

Recently, Ward pledged to donate more than $1 million to CDC and its work in Detroit. Beyond financial contributions, Ward has sent more than 500 volunteers to serve in Detroit during the past 10 months. So far, Ward has helped CDC purchase two-thirds of the vacant homes in its 24-block neighborhood. Now, work is continuing with renovations so families can eventually move in and strengthen the community.

Concert-goers will be treated to an evening of music that will feature not only Irene and the Northville and Clarenceville choirs, but the Selected of God Choir – featured on America’s Got Talent – as well as Detroit TV personality Chuck Gaidica and Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund.

“We’re going to show a video on Detroit’s housing and education work,” McKee said. “We see these great places where there are making a comeback.”

The concert is designed to build coalitions with the city and the suburbs.

“I love that Ward has been so committed to serving neighborhoods in Detroit that have severe challenges,” said Gaidica, a Northville-area resident. “Ward’s partnership with CDC is making an impact because it helps that organization touch lives.”

Established in 1994, CDC’s mission is to transform the neighborhood by rebuilding homes, helping families grow, offering entrepreneurship classes, opening new businesses to serve residents and more. “Our mission is really simple; it’s to transform lives while we’re transforming a community, ” said Lisa Johanon, CDC’s founder and executive director. “The biggest thing any suburban church can do is come and walk alongside us and get into people’s lives.”

McKee said that the partnership between Ward Church and the CDC is a natural fit. “Ward began over 60 years ago in the city of Detroit, so Detroit is our hometown – it’s where we grew up,” he said. “As a church, we believe we have a role to play in the restoration of Detroit. So many things happening today tell us that God is at work and it’s our job to join Him in it. Ward Church is committed to serving others and one way we can do that this season is raise funds through this concert and hopefully connect some new friends to CDC’s mission as well.”

The concert is being held at Ward Church, but McKee is quick to point out that the event won’t feel “churchy.” He said, “’Christmas for the D’ is a chance to celebrate what we have in common. Just like the members of Ward, so many people in our community are interested in Detroit and looking for ways to help move the city forward. This concert is a simple and fun way we can come together to do just that.”

The concert venue at Ward seats 1,400. With two shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Ward can welcome about 2,800 concert-goers. Tickets are $15 and $20 and are available at www.ChristmasForTheD.com. Ward is at 40000 Six Mile in Northville, just west of Haggerty, on the north side of the road.

“We are not going to pass the plate,” McKee said. “This is not a church thing. We will raise money from the ticket sales and it will go to work in the city.”

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